1 year (2013). Signed by NY Mets as a free agent 2/1/13 (minor-league contract). Salary of $0.7M in majors. Earned additional $0.1M in performance bonuses based on plate appearances. Contract purchased by NY Mets 3/31/13. Acquired by Pittsburgh in trade from NY Mets 8/27/13.

3 years/$15M (2010-12). Signed by Chicago Cubs as a free agent 12/31/09. 10:$3M, 11:$5.5M, 12:$6.5M. Acquired by Boston in trade from Chicago Cubs 4/21/12. (Boston to pay pro-rated share of $0.48M minimum salary, or about $435,165, with Cubs responsible for the balance of Byrd's 2012 salary, about $6,064,835). DFA by Boston 6/9/12. Released 6/12/12.

BP Chats

Dilson Herrara, is he the new Luis Castillo (minus a fair number of steals, but with maybe a little more pop) of second basemen?(Paul from DC)

As in is he a starting second baseman for the Mets? I think so. I am still stunned the Pirates gave him and Black up in that Marlon Byrd trade. That was one of the rare moves made by that front office that I questioned immediately. I think he'll be a regular for a long time. (Christopher Crawford)

Hey Bret, are you still optimistic about Ike Davis? I may have the chance to get him and Derek Holland for Marlon Byrd and Alex Guerrero. Not sure how much hope to have for Ike. Thoughts?(Chris from Dallas)

Sure with the PEDs, but some players who used were never all that disdained: be it Marlon Byrd or Andy Pettitte or Mark McGwire and all talent levels in between. A-Rod just seems so universally hated in a way that only Bonds and maybe Clemens reached.(Jim Clancy from Exhibition Stadium)

Yes, the perception certainly has to do with other factors. A-Rod has a long history of saying/doing the wrong/unpopular thing at the wrong time. (Ben Lindbergh)

Now that Melky and I have been exposed I have a question: are there still experts out there saying "we don't really know if PED's affect performance because we still don't have a double-blind study to prove it, dammit!" (Bartolo from Fiji)

What are the chances that the Red Sox reach out to JD Drew, need a solid bat in the lineup!(Brandon5tewart from Miami)

Considering they just traded for Marlon Byrd, I'd say fairly limited. Drew was so bad not to mention injured last year that, at his age, I'd be surprised if he got another shot in the majors. Which is kind of a shame. I've always been a fan of his. (Matthew Kory)

Hi Kevin, First off - thank you for attending the BP Book Tour in Chicago several weeks ago. I stopped by for a few hours and picked up some very interesting information. I appreciate you taking the time to interact with readers.
My question is about Brett Jackson. I have not had a chance to watch him at all and am curious as to his MLB floor/ceiling. I've read that he strikes out too much, is a great athlete, and BP has made comparisons to a young Curtis Granderson. Cubs manager Dale Sveum has stated Jackson is major league ready. Rumors have recently been floating around that Marlon Byrd is on the trade block and Jackson will get a quick call-up.
Is Jackson someone worth getting excited over? I have optimistic visions of 80R, 20HR, 80 RBI, 20 SB, .260/.350/.450 seasons in the future. From your observations and analysis, what should Cubs fans expect in the years to come?
Thank you!(Nick D from Chicago, IL)

I think that's a perfectly reasonable ceiling for Jackson, but I don't think he's ready. He still needs to work on his contact issues. (Kevin Goldstein)

Who are your top undervalued targets for NL only leagues this year?(Senior from Lost in my mind)

Just had LABR NL this weekend, so I've got a bunch. Not all went for as low as I wanted, but how about: Michael Cuddyer, Lucas Duda, Jon Jay, Marlon Byrd, John Mayberry, Jose Altuve, Ryan Ludwick, Tyler Greene. None are sure things, obviously, but that's the nature of undervalued targets. In general, I think these guys will come cheaper than I'd pay for them (although that wasn't the case for Cuddyer, Duda, Mayberry, Byrd, and Altuve this weekend in a tough LABR crowd). (Derek Carty)

Any ideas as to whom the Cubs might actually move and for what? I think Ramirez is staying and getting a 2-3 year extension.(Justin from Tinley Park)

Reed Johnson, They'd love to more Soriano, Fukudome. Maybe Ramirez if it's the perfect situation in August. Still like Marlon Byrd could be a nice pickup for a team. $6.5 mil for next year not horrible. Could be better, but...As for the Cubs deals with the devil. Yeah, ownership had say in it. But Hendry can't be divorced from things like multi year deals to John Grabow either (Mike Ferrin)

The Cubs are a mess. Considering their big mkt expectations, what direction do they go in as deadline approaches?(Matt from Chicago)

They could probably benefit from selling and slotting some of the ready youth (okay, mostly Brett Jackson) into the lineup, but looking around, it's not like they can move Alfonso Soriano, Marlon Byrd is hurt, and Carlos Pena is struggling. Maybe they would move a starting pitcher (one who isn't hurt, at least) for a few prospects, otherwise, there isn't a whole lot they can do. (R.J. Anderson)

Ok, this Cub team isn't all that exciting to watch. Coming out of the gates and displaying their mediocrity in mediocre fashion. But when can I get incredibly excited about Starlin Castro's start? Now? Am I late already? Should I wait a month? I need something to overhype and he seems to be all I got.(HypedUp Cub Fan from Chicago)

Especially since they're displaying their mediocrity in mediocre fashion against some pretty lousy teams. Hype up Castro all you want -- he's all we've got. Seriously, can you get excited over Marlon Byrd? Darwin Barney? Marcos Mateo? Castro just hits and hits and hits, and he's risen to every challenge he's been given. I've grown to love the kid, and it's a shameless, probably eventually self-defeating love, but I've thrown myself into it. Feel free to join me. (Ken Funck)

Do you see the Cubs offense struggling, due to lack of OBP skills?(Matt from Chicago)

They should be average to somewhat above. This assumes that Soto and Aramis stay healthy, that Pena isn't a sinkhole due his awful averages (since he will help the OBP with his walks), and that Fukudome gets regular at-bats near the top of the lineup. Gotta admit though, Marlon Byrd in the #3 spot is not an encouraging sign. (Cory Schwartz)

If you're Mike Quade, who are you inclined to hit leadoff in that lineup?(Matt from Chicago)

There really aren't a lot of options on that team, huh? I would bat Soto leadoff, but you know that isn't going to happen. Maybe Marlon Byrd? Castro might be a good leadoff hitter in the future, but I would prefer to keep him batting lower in the order for now. (Marc Normandin)

As a Chicagoan, do you have faith in Ricketts to pony up when some of the Cubs' bad deals expire? I'm getting a little skittish about him.(Matt from Chicago)

I don't think it makes sense to get skittish, at least not yet. The Ricketts bought a team whose hand had been dealt, with one of the worst assemblages of long-term, no-trade-protected commitments conceivable. Even then, they were willing to let Hendry sign Byrd, which was a complete success within the limited upside that adding Marlon Byrd gets you. I'll be interested to see what they do with A-Ram and Soto, because they're the team's two toughest calls as far as who to sign to extensions. (Christina Kahrl)

Given the Cubs' situation, I've been a strong advocate of moving Marmol. He is cost-controlled for two more years and will be rather expensive by the time the Cubs are seriously competitive again. Am I crazy?(Matt from Chicago)

No, you're not crazy, though it obviously depends on what you can get for him. It's not unlike what Christina was advocating when she wrote about trading Marlon Byrd, which is not unlike what the Tigers did in trading Granderson and Jackson. EVERYONE on the roster should be available for the right price -- the key being "the right price" -- and cost-controlled young veterans should get you a reasonable return. (Ken Funck)

How do you suggest Quade manages his 4 "starting caliber" OFers next yr? No obvious platoon situations come to mind.(Matt from Chicago)

I've argued already that the Cubs should get while the getting's good and exploit a weak crop of CF options on the market by dealing Marlon Byrd now. Soriano wouldn't generate much value, and Fukudome's deal comes with so many noxious contractual impedimenta that moving him would border on the miraculous. (Christina Kahrl)

Do you see the Cubs as an aging team in decline or do they have another run left in them with this group? Fortunately, they seem to have some decent farm talent coming up the pike soon.(Matt from Chicago)

From a former North Sider, it pains me to say this, but the Cubs are now chasing the past. They do have some good kids coming up, but for some reason, they seem stuck in the mode of needing to have that “proven” guy on the field at all times. Where/when will Sam Fuld play? Will they let Guzman just pitch? Why did they bother with Marlon Byrd? (Russell A. Carleton)

Is Xavier Nady any kind of positive for the Cubs? Sad that adding a 4th outfielder is possibly the triumphant move of the off-season.(Leroy Brown from Downtown)

That's if he can stay healthy, a big if, but at least he's potentially an upgrade on Reed Johnson. And the latter part... wasn't that what we could say about signing Marlon Byrd? I suppose there's the loudly trumpeted Pyrrhic victory of making Milton Bradley go away, but Carlos Silva's going to make people miss Al Nipper. (Christina Kahrl)

Who do you see as potential candidates to fill the Cubs' outfield vacancy? Do see a need for a power/run-producer or speed/obp/defense type?(Matt from Chicago)

Let's take a step back, b/c there really is no vacancy yet. The hope is still that they can trade Bradley for a decent everyday outfielder. If they can't, then maybe they go for one of the free agents -- can't you see the Cubs overpaying for Marlon Byrd? Who knows, if they have to release Bradley, maybe Jake Fox gets a shot, although that could be a disaster defensively... (Shawn Hoffman)

Ivan Rodriguez has no business on this team next year. Taylor Teagarden is basically that guy if you just want to go defense behind the plate, and you'd be insane to DH I-Rod. Trade Cruz to make room for him and Byrd? What the hell? Is this Billy Beane's plan for the Rangers? (Joe Sheehan)

Where does Holliday wind up? If not St. Louis, what do they do to replace him?(Bill from New Mexico)

Giants will probably make a big push. But I say he ends up in StL long term. If he goes elsewhere it's a bit tricky because there is Bay and then the rest. You have aging outfielders better suited to DH duty and then the complementary parts like Marlon Byrd. Maybe they can work out a deal for Carl Crawford if Holliday leaves. (Eric Seidman)

Do you think that Marlon Byrd will be resigned by the Rangers for 2 years $9 million, or do you think that he'll get 3-4 years $15-$20 million and go elsewhere? which do you think would be better for the Rangers?(Ira from North Texas)

Byrd, while the owner of some decent pop, is certainly replaceable in the outfield, and I have a feeling he ends up in San Francisco for around 3-15 after they whiff on Bay and Holliday. (Eric Seidman)

The devil is in the details. I'd take Byrd back on a two-year deal for the kind of money those deals usually entail. It's a lefty-heavy outfield, and Byrd's a nice fourth OF. If it takes more than that, or any kind of PT assurance, you have to let him go. (Joe Sheehan)